0> 

3 

^ 

ITS 


LIGINAL    CA1 

SPENCER 

Design 'd  as  Part  of  his  Fairy 
Queen,  but  never  Printed* 
Now  made  Publick,  By  Nestor 

Ironside,  Esq  ;     .  . .' .    .;.'•-•  v;'':  .  ^•-.•;  • ' 
London;    M.DCC.XIV. 


Reproduced  in  facsimile,  unedited,  for  the  use 
of  students  of  political  and  literary  history 


ARTHUR  H.  NASON,  PUBLISHER 

UNIVERSITY  HEIGHTS,  NEW   YORK  CITY 

1912 


AN    ORIGINAL    CANTO    OF 

SPENCER 

Designed  as  Part  of  his  Fairy 
Queen,  but  never  Printed. 
Now  made  Publick,  By  Nestor 

Ironside,  Esq  ;        

London;  M.DCC.XIV. 


Reproduced  in  facsimile,  unedited,  for  the  use 
of  students  of  political  and  literary  history 


ARTHUR  H.  NASON,  PUBLISHER 

UNIVERSITY  HEIGHTS,  NEW  YORK  CITY 

1912 


Original   Canto 

0 

O    F 

SPENCER 

Defign'd  as  Part  of  his  FA  i  R  y  Qu  E  E  N, 
but  never  Printed. 


Now  made  Publick, 
By  NESTOR  IRONSIDE, 

pitta  Voluftatis  ctwfa  jtnt  proxim  Verls.     Hor. 


*i&£g&&3f,& 


L  0  NV  0 

Printed  for  A.  BAJLDWIN  near  the  Oxford-'Anns  in 
Warwic(-Lane.    M.  DCC.aV. 

(Price 


THE 

PREFACE 

An  not  infen/lble  with  what  <%eafon  tie  following  <Piec$ 
of  SpencerV  will  be  fufrefted  to  be  fywciow,  if  A 
true  and  fair  Account  be  not  fir  ft  given  of  it.  I  am 
therefore  to  inform  the  (Reader,  that  my  Great  Grand- 
father, Sir  Caleb  Ironfide,  was  a  Schoolfellow  and  intimate  Ac- 
quaintance of  Mr.  SpencerV.  There  are  Traditions  in  the  Fflm'dy 
of  many  concurring  Circumftances  that  Very  much  tend  to  the  CP»- 
firmatlon  of  tins  Ajfertion :  As,  that  the  <Poet  communicated  alt 
his  Writings  to  Sir  Caleb,  before  he  made  them  <Publick.i  whether 
out  of  Compliment  to  an  old  Friendy  or  becaufe  he  thought  his 
Judgment  really  good,  I  cant  fay.  It  is  further  faid^  that  the 
Author,  out  of<%ailleryy  uid  to  call  him  Talus  $  there  being  fome 
Affinity  of  the  Name  of  the  one  to  the  <Perfon  of  the  other. 

,  Upon  rummaging  my  Father  s  Study,  after  his  Death  (I  remem- 
ber 1  wo*  then  but  of  two  tears  /landing  in  the  Univerfoy)  among 
other  Family-Obliques ,  I  found  JeVeral  Sonnets  and  Paftorals, 
written  by  Sir  Caleb  5  one  of  which  defcribes  a  Summers  Evening 
prettily  enough^  where  Spencer  is  introducd  under  the  Title  of 
Colin,  walking  and  talking  with  him  upon  the  Banks  of  the  Mulla 
A  2  in 


267353 


U3 

w  Ireland  5   pear  which,  a  confiderable  <Part  of  the  Eftate  of  the 
Ironfides  then  lay.     One  Stan%a,of  which  <Paftoral  runt  thus : 

See,   gentle  Co/w,    Silver  Mulla  weeps. 
And  wets  the  dewy  Shore  when  you  lament  5 
And  eke  her  plaining  Stream  in  filence  fleeps, 
If  you  but  fmile  her  Pleafure  to  augment : 
Thy  powerful  Pipe,   O  lovely  Shepherd's  Boy, 
Can  .tune  infenfate  Floods  to  Grief  or  Joy. 

From  a  dufly  heap  of  this  antiquated  Poetry ,  I  drew  the  follow- 
ing  Canto  3  which  I  found  a  tittle  dispgurd  with  Interpolations 
and  Amendments^  all  Jeeming  to  be  written  by  the  fame  Hand* 
At  the  end  of  it  was  written,  in  Sir  Caleb'*  Hand  3  This  is  my 
dear  Friend  and  Schoole-fellow,  Munne  Spencers  own  Hand- 
wryting  3  but  never  imprinted,  becaufe  not  approved  of  by 
him,  though  I  think  it  inferiour  to  none  of  his  Allegories. 
'This  ObferVation  I  my  felf  further  made :  .on  the  Margin  was 
written  in  a  fmall  Character  by  the  Author  him/elf^  Memoran^ 
dum,  To  relate  Mother  Hubberd's  Tale  in  Verfe,  if  it 
pleafeth  God  to  recover  me  from  my  Fevor.  From  whence 
I  conclude,  that  this  Canto  was  written  in  tlx  Time  of  that 
FeVer  5  and  muft  therefore  take  the  Liberty  to  dijfent  from  Sir 
Caleb,  in  averring  that  I  thinly  it  inferiour  to  all  his  other  Atte- 
g&rical  Writings :  which  doubtlefi  was  one  Gteafon  why  the  Author 
reje&ed  it.  Several  farts  of  it  fe£m  to  be  written  with  an  un* 
ufilal  Flatnefi  with  a  languid  faint  Spirit  the  Author  at  other 
times  was  a  Stranger  to:  and  feVeralof  the  Alexandrines,  at  the: 
Oofe  of  the  Stanzas,  were  undoubtedly  breath'd  out  in  the  Hei$t 
a  <Phren%y.  '  Sut  be  that  as  it  witly  we  may  fee  by  his  dijfe* 


, 


m 

ring  a  little  from,  "the  Thred  of  fa  Htftory  M  it  now  ftands 
that  it  could  not  be  made  &  fart  of  it,  though  probably  fo  de- 
figrid  when  firft  fawn.  For  though  all  the  <Perfons  here  men- 
tion d,  but  one,  are  introducd  by  him  fomewhere  or  other,  yet  he 
never  reprefents  tfam  under  fuch  Circumflances.  It  feems  rather 
that  he  reVersdhhfirft  Defign$  for  he  has  made  Arthegall  to 
be  enthralfd  by  R'adigund,  who  is.  fet  at  liberty  by  Britomarc, 
inform  d  of  his  Captivity  by  Talus  :  and  Burbon  and  Flourdelis 
are  brought  in,  in  the  Eleventh  Canto  of  the  Fifth  Book,,  as  fuing 
to  Arthegall  for  Succour,  after  a  Very  humble  and  peaceable  man- 
ner.  Why  the  Author  chang'd  his  firft  De/tgn^  it  is  none  of  my 
tBufinefs  to  enquire* 

I  need  mafy  no  Apology  for  publijbing  and  obliging  the  World 
vaWh  any  thing  written  by  Jo  celebrated  a  Perfon  as  EnglandY 
Arch-Voet  Spencer  5  though  iforefee  how  ill  it  will  be  relijhed  in 
this  Age,  where  the  Stile  will  be  thought  obfolete,  and  the  allegorical 
way  of  writing  has  been  fo  loftg  difuid.  Who  all  the  <Perfons 
are  he  would  have  hinted  at  in  thoje  'Times,  it  is  bard  to  tell  $ 
though  the  Vices  which  he  aims  at  are  Very  confyicUous  :  nor  is  iff 
improbable,  but  he  might  haVe  it  in  his  Mind  to  diffuade  fofterity, 
by  this  Example,  from  fuffering  the  Liberties  of  their  Confiitution 
to  be  infringd  by  the  pretended  Zeal  of  infinuating  Traitors*  God 
forbid  we  Jhould  ever  fland  in  need  of  fuch  a  (precaution. 

I  fhatt  further  inform  the  World,  that  among  fome  Verfes  made 
in  praife  of  the  Author,  and  publijh'd  at  the  end  of  his  Works  in 
the  Edition  I  have,  is  a  Copy  fubfcribed  Hobynoll,  which  I  have 
by  me  in  Sir  CalebV  Hand,  no  doubt  of  his  compofing$  who>alfo 
feems  to  be  introducd  in  his  <Paftorals  under  that  'Title,  as  Colin  s 
moji  intimate  Friend.  1  muft  ywny  I  was  preVaifd  upon  with  no 

jmaH 


fmatt  Importurtity  to  make  Ms  Public^  but  the  Obligations  I 
to  thofe  Gentlemen  who  (erfuaded  me  to  it,  ,will  more  than  excufe  me : 
1  fhall  Jhortly,  at  their  inftances^  and  according  to  the  Welcome  this 
Piece  of  Antiquity  meets  with,  publifk  the  <Poems  of  the  Ironfides, 
written  upon  divers  SubjeEis,  by  Men  of  different  dges  and  Genius's  5 
being  f  erfuaded  they  will  appear  with  no  dif agreeable  Confujlon  in  a 
Mifcellany.  For  you  wttft  know,  all  the  Ironfides  have  had  fome 
/mattering  of  Poetry  more  or  lefs  5  or  at  leaft  have  pretended  to  it. 
There  the  Deader  fhall  be  entertain  d  with  the  fajhionable  Flou- 
rijhes  of  every  Age,  from  the  Ballad  of  SidropheLIronfide,  in 
the  ^eign  of  Henry  the  Fourth,  to  the  Satyr  of  Neftor  Iron- 
fide,  £/#  in  the  Time  of  Charles  the  Second. 

1  fhall  only  ajfure  the  Deader ,  that  what  1  haVe  or  Jhall  publifh, 
it  done  with  a  fincere  Defign  to  inform  and  pleafe  him,  who  is  at 
liberty  to  turn  it  to  Inftruttion  or  S^W/'cw/e,  as  he  things  fit.  Though 
I  mujt  warn  him  not  to  cenfure  the  prefent  Fragment,  unlefs  he 
knows  him/elf  to  be  well  acquainted  with  Spencer,  and  his  manner 
of  writing :  for  whoever  pretends  to  find  fault  before  he  can  give 
his  ^eafons  for  it,  will  Jhew  either  his  lU-Nature  or  Jgnoranc£  $ 
and  expofe  bimfelf  much  more  than  bis 

Humble  Servant, 


NESTOR  IRONSIDE. 


[7] 


A    N 

Original  CANTO, 

Archimage  with  his  Hell-hounds  foid 
J)oth  Britomarc  enchain : 

Talus  doth  feek.  out  Arthegall, 
And  tells  him  of  her  <Pam. 


[AIR  Liberty,  bright Goddefs,  Heavenly-born, 
So  high  efteem'd  by  ev'ry  living  Wight ; 
O  how  depreft  with  Thraldom  and  with  Scorn. 
Are  they  who  want  thy  kind  refrefhing  Light  ? 
How,  when  we're  banilht  from  thy  lovely  Sight, 
Sitting  in  Clouds  of  Darknefs  evermore, 
Wrapt  up  in  Errors  of  eternal  Night, 
Do  we,   with  deep  furrounding  Sorrows  fore, 
io  vain  our  wretched  State  with  difmal  Cries  deplore  ? 

2*  In 


C8] 


2. 

In  this  fad  Plight  behold  fair  Britomtrt, 
Alas !  we  muft  awhile  with-holden  fee 
By  that  falfe  Arcbimag<?$  cunning  Art, 
By  whom  fair  VITA  could  mifleaden  be : 
la  vile  Enchantments  all  excelled  He, 
And  whofoever  dar'd  him  to  oppofe, 
Soon  feH,  or  fwiftly  did  before  him  fiee ; 
Or  elfe  to  them  he  gave  a  magick  Dofe, 
By  which  they  calmly  flept,  and  fildom  more  arofe, 

3- 

This  nobfe  Maiden,  whofe  avenging  Spear 
So  many  Tyrant  Enemies  had  (lain; 
Whofe  very  Name  had  filPd  all  Hearts  with  Ffear^ 
Wfcofe  very  Sight  had  caufed  erft  much  Pain, 
In  inany  a  Caftle  fair,  and  many  a  Plain; 
Of  Life  forlorn,  or  Liberty  more  fweet, 
Was  now  bereft,  (0  foul  ignoble  Stain !) 
By  one  vile  Caitiff  whom  too  well  I  weet^ 
Ere  he  came  near  flie  mote  lay  fprauling  at  ho*  Feet. 


Cs>3 

4- 


But  fhe  with  7W/#,  Groom 
In  queft  of  Fame  was  pacing  on  her  Way  ;. 
Ne  dreamt  fhe  then  of  any  Harm  at  all, 
Nor  few  from  whom  fhe  might  exped  a  Fray  : 
When  He,  in  fhape  of  Palmer  old  and  gray, 
DifTembiing,  her  approacht  ;  in  his  left  Hand 
He  held  an  artificial  Bough  of  Bay, 
And  in  his  right  he  wav'd  a  taper  Wand, 
While  thus  his  cunning  Speech  in  comely  wize  he  (can'd. 

5- 

I  humbly  crave  the  Caufe  (faid  he)  fair  Knight, 

Why  in  this  Land,  where  nought  but  Peace  fhoul&dwell, 
You  thus  appear  yclad  in  Armour  bright, 
Right  fully  bent  fome  lufiy  Foe  to  quell, 
When  here  are  none  but  Friends  that  mean  you  wefl  : 
Let  me  advize  to  quit  your  fierce  Intent, 
And  banilh  Difcord  to  its  native  Hell  ; 
Me  here  the  Princes  of  this  Land  have  fent 
To  offer  Terms  of  Peace  and  happy  Agreement. 

B  6.  With 


[10] 

6. 

With  modeft  Semblant  thus  he  framtt  his  Tong; 
But  Britomartis  prudently  forefaw 
That  his  difTembled  Words  intended  Wrong, 
Lifting  her  into  deadly  Snares  to  draw; 
And  thus  jQie  fpoke  in  Words  commanding  Aw. 
Full  well  I  know  what  Peace  is  to  be  found 
In  Paymrfr  Country,  where  withputen  Law 
Ungentle  Knights  by  force  of  Arms  are  crowtfd, 
And  exercife  their  baleful  Tyranny  around. 

7- 

By  Breach  of  Publick  Faith  and  guileful  Art 
Full  many  a  noble, Knight  they  have  undone ; 
By  crafty  Sleight  they  ever  play  their  Part, 
But  never  ought  by  worthy  Valour  wone. 
Thefe  therefore  (falfe  old  Man)  nuift  be  my  Pone ; 
On  them  I  ftrait^way  will  juft  Vengeance  reek, 
On  them,  who  Juftice  yet  have  fhew'd  to  none ; 
Thefe  are  the  Rebels  which  I  ever  feek, 
With  lharpeii'd  Steel  of  my  avenging  Lance  to  flseefc 


8. 

This  faid,  flic  onward  fpur'd  her  mettled  Steed, 
And  in  her  Reft  coucht  well  her  glittring  Spear* 
And  faithful  Talus,  her  Commands  to  reed, 
With  yron  Flail  befide  her  ran  fiill  near, 
So  that  (he  mought  no  living  Mortal  fear. 
Whereat  the  Carle  enragM  now  bolder  grew, 
His  Magick  Wand  aloft  he  gan  uprear, 
And  aftecher  with  fecret  Speed  he  flew, 
And  ftroke  her  fo,  ah  Gods !  the  Wound  ihe'l  ever  rev. 

9* 

For  foon  as  fhe  th'  endiauntirig  Touch  did  feel, 
The  Life-Blood  faded  in  her  youthful  Cheek, 
Her  crefted  Helm  and  Sword,  of  tempered  Steel, 
Did  into  Thoufand  Pieces  crumbling  break, 
Ne  could  fhe  with  her  Tongue  her  Ailment  fpeak. 
Down  from  her  lofty  Steed  {he  trembling  fell, 
And  on  the  Earth's  cold  Bofom  lay  fo  meek, 
Who  erft  could  Knights  and  fturdy  Giants  queU* 
Before  this  fad  Milhap  fo  fodain  her  befell* 

B  2  ia  As 


[12] 

10. 

As  when  fome  purple  Flowre  bedecks  the  Fields, 
With  Gold  enameld,  interwove  with  Green, 
Which  through  the  Air  its  dewy  Odours  yields, 
Fit  to  perfume  the  Bofom  of  fome  Queen ; 
(So  fair  a  Flowre  I.  trow  is  fildom  feen,) 
Yet,  when  the  blafting  Mildew's  dreary  Bane 
With  noifom  Breath  infefts  the  Welkin  fheen, 
Its  colourd  Leaves  no  longer  then  remain, 
But  droop  and  fade  away,  and  die  along  the  Plain, 

ii. 

So  faded  Jbitom*rti*9  feireft  Flowr ; 
Her  ample  Spear  befide  her  ufelefs  lay, 
Her  foltring  Spright  in  that  accurfed  Hour 
Was  dampt  with  deadly  Shame  and  fore  Difmay: 
Wfcadi  cruel  Sight  did  Talus  quight  affray, 
And  filld  his  Senfes  with  Abafhment  great, 
So  that  with  eager  Haft  he  fled  away, 
Ne  flayed  with  that  Villain  Chorle  to  treat, 
"Who  toward  him  came  with  angry  Looks  and  bitter  Threat. 

is.  Tho 


da  3 


12. 

Tho  when  he  had  the  Virgin  thus  at  will, 
He  feized  firft  her  Spear  and  Slueld  fo  bright  5 
Yet  thus  defpoild  of  Arms  he  nould  her  kill, 
Sith  Death  is  fweet  to  the  enflaved  Wight, 
Who  with  his  Freedom  foregoes  all  Delight : 
In  Bondage  her  he  meaned  for  to  keep, 
That  fhe  might  make  fome  Sport  for  Paynim  Knight, 
Who  would  rejoyce  to  fee  her  wail  and  weep, 
Emprifoned  full  clofe  in  Dungeon  dark  and  deep* 

*** 

The  Trophies  won  in  many  a  Battle  fair 
(Foul  Sight  to  fee !)  the  Villein  undertrod, 
And  ibore  away  her  golden  curled  Hair 
Befceming  well  to  grace  fome  heav'nly  God : 
Her  dradded  Plumes  that  whilom  wont  to  nod, 
And  from  Her  Creft  Ihone  like  the  Ev'ning  Star, 
Languidly  faded,  ftruk  with  that  fame  Rod, 
Whofe  influencing  Vapours  from  afar 
Shed  Peftilence,  and  all  that  feemed  fair  did  mar* 


14. 

With  Witchchrafc  vilid  he  then  enwrapt  her  round 
In  magick  Chains  of  many  a  mazie  Fold, 
And  to  a  chalky  Cliff  feft  backward  bound, 
Bxpos'd  to  funny  Heat  and  frory  Cold ; 
Torment  too  bitter  ever  to  be  told. 
Ah  warlike  Maid !  who  fees  thy  fad  Eftate 
With  Eyes  that  can  from  trickling  Tears  with-hold  ? 
What  hoftile  Breaft  fo  fraught  with  deadly  Hate, 
But  muft  lament  thy  Lot,  and  pity  thy  hard  Fate? 

i5- 

Yet  not  content  with  this  his  cruel  Deed, 
The  falfe  Enchaunter  aggravates  her  Pain 
With  taunting  Words  that  make  her  Heart  to  bleed ; 
And  thus  he  frames  his  Speech  with  light  Difdain : 
Small  need  has  Knight  thus  guarded  to  complain ; 
What  Fear  of  Harm  while  I  thus  watchful  ftand  ? 
Then  banifh  from  your  Mind  all  Sorrows  vain, 
lor  by  the  Towr  of  this  Almighty  Wand, 
I  can  approching  Dangers  far  away  command. 

id.  And 


C'53 


And  as  a  Proof  of  this  my  Courtefie, 
Which  is  not  feignd,  but  real  and  moft  trew, 
A  trufty  Legion  Ihall  be  placed  nie, 
Of  Courage  ftout,  a  goodly  feeming  Crew, 
To  reed  your  high  Behefts  as  is  moft  dew. 
With  that  a  bugle  Horn  he  ftrait-way  wound, 
Whofe  fhrilling  Mufick  through  the  Welkin  flew, 
So  that  retnoteft  Parts  mote  hear  the  Sound, 
Which  through  Hills,  Vales  and  hollow  Rocks,  went  ecchoing  round* 


Eftfoons  an  ugly  and  deformed  Brood, 
That  with  their  hideous  Yellings  rent  the  Sky, 
Forth  iffued  fwiftly  from  the  neighbour  Wood, 
And  round  the  captivd  Nymph  gan  loudly  cry  ; 
Such  Hell-hounds  nere  were  feen  by  mortal  Eye. 
Some  few  like  Britijb  Bull-dogs  ftern  and  itout, 
But  moft  liker  fawning  Spaniels  low  did/ly, 
And  meanly  to  the  Wizard's  Motions  lout, 
Performing,  what  he  would  when  fo  he  caft  about. 

18. 


[ 


18. 

Yet  they  not  all  obeyd  his  curfed  Meed, 
But  on  chaft  Innocence  fome  Pity  took ; 
Thofe  Bu^dogs  ftout  of  goodly  Britifh  Breed 
With  Treachery  fo  foul  could  never  brook, 
Ne  bear  on  injured  Goodnefs  thus  to  look. 
To  free  fair  Britomart  they  fiercely  ftrove, 
(Sith  Vertue  never  is  by  all  fbrfbok) 
And  joyning  all  their  Force  in  common  Drove, 
They  vow'd  her  iron  Chains  and  Fetters  to  remove. 

19. 

Which  when  the  crafty  ArchimAgo  faw, 
Afraid  left  now  his  wretched  Work  fhould  fafl, 
He  gins  a » new  devized  Scheme  to  draw, 
And  ties  his  Hounds  in  Couples  feverall, 
That  he  might  ftill  be  Soverain  over  all: 
The  gen'rous  Cur,  and  Spaniel  bafe  of  Blood, 
Were  linkt  together  in  one  fervile  Thrall, 
That  thofe  who  ftill  his  Meaning  underftood, 
By  hanging  back  might  hinder  Thefe  from  doing  good* 

20.  Thofe 


C 


20. 

Thofe  honeft  Hounds  endeavoured  ftill  foil  fain 

To  work  the  forlorn  Maiden's  Liberty; 

Striving  with  knawing  Teeth  to  wrarich  the  Chaia») 

Which  did  her  tender  Limbs  to  th'  Rock  upty  : 

But  thefe  the  bafer  Whelps  with  yelling  cry 

Bet  off:  and  ftill  as  they  approched  near, 

Perverfely  drew  their  collar'd  Necks  awry, 

So  that  they  mought  not  fee  that  Virgin  dear, 

e  pity  her  fad  State,  nor  dread  Complainings  hsar. 

21. 

For  this  their  Office  good,  the  Sorcerer 
Forth  from  a  Wallet  which  befide  him  hung, 
Threw  many  gobbet  Offals  of  good  Cheer, 
Which  they  devour'd  with  Cries  that  loudly  rung, 
And  waggM  their  Tails,  and  Tilled  out  their  Tucg: 
Yet  when  his  Bags  of  Carnage  empty  grew,  , 
And  -to  their  greedy  Jaws  he  all  had  flung, 
Tbe  unjuft  Carle  provokt  the  goodly  Few, 

from  their  inly  Maw  their  Loads  they  did  opfpew. 

C  22.  Which 


22. 

Which  when  the  other  Hell-dogs  did  efpy, 
With  much  fell  Ravin  and  fierce  Greedinefs, 
They  lapt  up  that  fame  Filth  that  near  did  ly, 
And  rent  and  tore,  and  yelPd  without  Redrefs, 
Joying  they  mote  the  others  thus  opprefs  . 
And  to  aggratec  their  magick  Lord  the  more, 
Who  much  delighted  in  fuch  Wickednefs, 
They  deaft  their  Ears  with  foul  outrageous  Rore, 
And  filthy  Poifon  belcht,  of  which  they  had  much  Store* 


Thereat  the  others,  mov'd  with  fell  Defpight, 
Their  noble  Blood  high-fwelling  in  their  Heart, 
Would  have  ytorn  the  Sorcerer  outright 
For  playing  this  fo  villeinous  a  Part, 
At  which  for  very  Grief  their  Soul  did  fmart  .- 
Ne  could  the  Hell-dogs  ftop  their  furious  Heat, 
Perdie  nor  ArchimAgo  with  his  Art  ; 
For  they  impetuous  grinn'd  a  ghaftly  Threat, 
And  with  their  Jharpen'd  Fangs  the  Mongrils  off  did  beat. 

24.  O 


[Ip] 


Onow  feir  Br*ta0r4r/&'  'Sprite  returns 
With  Ihining  plimpfe  of  Hope's  reviving  Light, 
The  purple  Blood  within  her  pale  Cheeks  burns  ; 
Once  more  her  Eyes  Ihe  opens  fparkling  bright, 
That  erft  enfhadow'd  lay  in  darkfome  Night  : 
Swift-flying  Joy  orefpreads  her  lovely  Face, 
When  flie  beheld  that  unexpefted  Sight, 
And  merry  Tranfport  with  befeeming  Grace 
Breaks  forth  ;  fure  Tokens  of  her  great  illuftrious  Race  ! 

25- 

Like  as  when  Phabus,  crownd  with  golden  Beams* 
Through  mirky  Clouds  that  veil  the  Firmament, 
His  unrefifted  Fulgour  bughtly  (treams, 
And  clears  the  Sky  with  Vapours  overhent  : 
So  the  bright  Flames  that  from  her  Eyes  were  fent 
DifTpred  a  radiant  Glory  all  around, 
And  eas'd  the  Pain  of  her  fad  Captivement, 
Wbo  lay,  with  many  a  fore  and  bitter  ftound, 
Faft  lock  will  k?on  fect^s  co  the  dony  Ground. 

C  2  26.  Ah 


[203 


Ah  haplefs  Maid !  Fate's  firm  and  fix'd  Decree 
Awhile  withftands  thy  growing  Happinefe ; 
And  who  fo  ftrong  to-  conquer  Deftinee, 
Or  the  Rcfelvesof  Heaven  to  reprefs? 
That  wyly  Man,  who  wrought  thy  Wretchednefc, 
Can  ftubborn  Sprites  and  griefly  Gorgons  tame; 
Albe  thy  Prowefs  far  excells,  nathlefs 
If  he  his  dark  inyfterious  Charms  but  name, 
Loud  Storms  roar  through  the  Sky,  and  fhake  Earth's  foh'd  Frame*. 

27. 

Soon  as*  this  Tumult  bad  the  Wizard  faw> 
Which  like  a  fwelling  Torrent  fiercely  rold, 
And  great  Deftruftion  on  him  feem'd  to  draw ; 
Yet  he  undaunted  flood  and  ever  bold, 
Counting  them  one  by  one  their  Number  told  j 
To  know  how  rfiany  did  againft  him  fight, 
And  eke  how  many  with  him  feem'd  to  hold, 
That  he  from  thence  mought  work  his  Guiles  aright, 
And  on  th'  Offenders  execute  his  fell  Defpight. 

28.  Muting 


28. 

Mufing  a-while  with  fteddy  ferious  Look, 
fie  nodded,  to  and  fro  in  penfive  Mood  ; 
Then  with  his  all-bewitching  Staff  he  (book 
The  hollow-founding  Lay  on  which  he  flood; 
The  quaking  Earth  trembled  full  many  a  Rood. 
Eftfoonsj  the  Glebe  dividing,  there  uplprung 
Six  Couple  more  of  that  fame  Mongril  Brood, 
Who  proftrate  lickt  his  Feet  with  fawning  Tong, 
Then  kennelled  themfelves  the  other  Pack  emong. 

29. 

As  when  old  Nilw  with  his  fatning  Wave, 
Oreflows  the  fruitful  Plains  of  Egypt's  Lond, 
His  flimy  Streams  the  flowry  Meadows  lave, 
Manuring  als  the  dry  and  barren  Sond 
With  Mud,  that  oyerfpreds  the  delug'd  Strond : 
Soon  as  the  ebbing  Stream  finks  down  again, 
Strange  Births  emong  the  teeming  Clods  are  fond; 
Unheard  of  Monfters  fright  the  rural  Swain, 

half-form'd  Bodies  rear  their  Heads  above  the  Plain. 

30.  So 


I 

So  this  ualookt  for  Produft  quite  affrayd 
TV  avenging  Spirit  of  that  angry  Crew, 
And  dampt  the  Hopes  of  the  reviving  Maid, 

Whofe  Sorrows  now  afrefh  gan  to  renew, 

At  this  fo  dreadful!  and  aftounding  View  : 

For  now  the  Magick  Wight,  with  his  bafe  Herd, 

Could  all  the  reft  full  eafily  fubdew, 

Ne  to  affii&  them  furioufly  he  fpar'd ; 
So  that  his  threatfuil  Look  and  Rage  by  all  was  fear'd. 

*'• 

Then  with  his  Horn  again  he  loudly  fung, 
And  blew  the  Sound  aloft  into  the  Air, 
That  Woods  and  lowly  Dales  full  widely  rung, 
And  many  a  Lake  and  many  a  River  fair : 
Eftlbons  there  forward  came  a  comely  Pair, 
On  ftately  pacing  Courfers  mounted  high, 
Who  in  their  Gate  Majeftick  Prowefs  bare; 
The  Knight  in  Paynim  Land  bore  Sovereinty, 
The  Lady  was  his  Leman  fair,  and  rode  him  by* 

32.  He 


He  was,  I  ween,  the  Great  Sir  'Burton  hight, 
Whom  late  fair  ^Bntomnnis  did  defeat  ; 
A  bloody,   murdrous  and  abhorred  Knight, 
Who  All  with  Rage  defpighteous  did  entreat, 
To  rife  in  Fame,  and  make  his  Empire  great: 
Him  the  falfe  Archimago  did  enfhroud 
(FavVing  with  wondrous  Art  his  bafe  Retreat) 
Envelopt  fafe  within  a  Sable  Cloud, 
Elfe  had  he  fcant  appear'd  fo  blythe  and  vainly  proud* 

33- 

Yet  fhe,  that  valiant  Maid,  had  firft  bereft 

The  Heathenifh  Tyrant  of  his  blazon'd  Shield^ 
And  certes  would  his  Pajnim  Skull  have  cleft, 
Or  made  him  with  full  low  Obeyfance  yield, 
But  that  enfhrowded  thus  Fear  wingy-heel'd 
Him  bore  far  off  ,   ne  durft  he  venture  more 
Gamft  Bntomart  his  .Coward  Sword  to  wield : 
Who  on  his  guilty  Corfe  had  (truck  full  fore, 
And  bath'd  his  brazen  Arms  in  Streams  of  Purple  Gore. 

34.  But 


But  at  his  Friend  old  drchimagd's  Call, 
He  foon  yode  forth  to  feize  the  wonted  Pray; 
For  well  he  wote  fome  wretched  Wight  in  Thrall, 
He  had  entrapt  on  that  fame  craggy  way, 
Withouten  Blows,  or  Dint  of  bloody  Fray : 
Tho  when  he  faw  his  lateft  dradded  Foe, 
On  ftony  Rock  difarffiM  and  caft  aftray, 
For  fodain  Joy  his  Fear  he  did  foregoe, 
And   grenn'd  aloud  at  Britomarfs  heart-breaking  Woe. 

35- 

Yet  fuch  a  Dread  of  his  Jate  bleeding  Smart, 
And  foul  Reproches  ignominious  Stain, 
Sate  deep  engraven  in  his  fearfull  Heart, 
That  he  nould  venturp  her  too  near  again, 
So  well  him  warned  had  his  former  Pain  : 
But  fmiling  on  the  Treachour  flood  aloof, 
And  cafting  forth  his  vaunting  Speeches  vain, 
Upbraided  her  with  villainous  Reproof, 
And  Sounder  heap'd  on  Slaunder,  as  was  his  Behoof. 

36.  So 


36. 

So  when  the  wyly  Spider  has  befet 
Some  gallant  Wafp,  bedeckt  with  fcalcs  of  Gold, 
Enwrappcn  in  Bis.  thinly- woven  Net, 
The  ftrugling  Fly  he  firmly  doth  with-hold, 
Who  (till  for  Freedom  plies  both  fierce  and  bold : 
So  that  his  Foe  dares  not  approche  him  near, 
Though  clofe  within  the  winding  Clew  enrold, 
But  from  his  rankling  Sting  keeps  alway  clear, 
And  at  his  fluttr'ing  Motions  trembles  aye  for  Fear. 

37- 

So  Britowartis,  though  in  Fetters  bound, 
That  wicked  Coward's  Courage  did  affray, 
That  when  her  Vifage  ftern  ihe  moved  round, 
His  thrilling  Heart  was  filPd  with  fore  Difmay : 
Yet  foftly  creeping  up  he  did  affay 
His  captive  Shield  from  by  her  fide  to  take, 
And  with  light  Heels  it  nimbly  bore  away 
For  flour  delis  his  deareft  Ladies  fake, 
Whofe  Portraiture  thereon  the  Workman,  erft  did  make. 

D  38.  Yet 


[26] 

I* 

Yet  not  that  Lady  which  befide  him  rode 
Was  Flourdelis,  but  fair  Romania,  hight, 
Who  drew  her  boafted  Lineage  from  fbme  God, 
And  deem'd  her  felf  greater  than  mortal  Wight : 
She  many  Lovers  had  of  Paynim  Knight, 
But  chiefly  with  Sir  Burba*  chofe  to  wonne, 
Who  All  affayld  to  kill  in  bloody  Fight, 
And  Thoufand  wretched  Mortals  had  undone, 
That  would  not  leave  their  Loves,  and  worfhip  her  alone., 

39- 

Upon  a  wanton  Mule  (he  proudly  fate, 
Clad  in  white  Robes,  enfring'd  with  Crimfon  Red : 
Gold,  Pearls  and  Diamonds  in  mighty  State, 
Her  whole  Attire  did  gayly  overfpred ; 
A  triple  Coronet  adorn'd  her  Head. 
And  as  fhe  paft  in  haughty  Surquedry, 
Like  fome  great  Queen  thus  richly  garniflied, 
Where-ere  fhe  caft  her  .fupercilious  Eye, 
All  with  low  Adoration  down  on  Earth  did  lye* 

4o.  Faft 


40. 

Faft  by  her  Side  there  ran  a  youthful  Squire, 
Who  did  with  humble  Duty  on  her  wait, 
Joying  he  mote  her  beauteous  Form  admire ; 
To  whom  Sir  Burbot*  promifed  had  late 
Him  to  advance  to  Knighthood's  fair  Eftate: 
And  now  with  Ankim&go  gan  devize, 
His  vainly  fond  Ambition  to  aggrate, 
In  Brifomartis  Armour  to  difguize, 
Who  feem'd  his  Peer  to  be  in  Height  and  fliapely  Size, 

41. 

So  gan  they  foon  her  Armoury  unbrace, 
Who  lay  aftound  through  Force  of  magick  Art, 
And  on  that  youthful  Squire  if  tried  to  place, 
Who  thereat  woxe  right  blythe  and  glad  in  Heart; 
Yet  nould  the  Armour  fit  in  any  Part ; 
Which,  made  for  AngeU  the  Saxon  Queen, 
Did  only  well  befeem  fair  Britomart ; 
Ne  ever  was,  ne  ever  will,  I  ween, 
Be  worn  by  fairer  Wight,  fith  fairer  maynt  be  feen. 

D  2  42.  The 


42. 

The  Treffes  which  adown  her  fhoulders 
And  veild  her  fnowy  Neck  wkh  comely 
Which  fineft  golden  Wyre  did  far  excell, 
By  skillfull  Art  of  crafty  Goldfmith'inade, 
The  Sorcerer  fhore  off  with  Eurbo??s  Blade^ 
And  on  his  Helmet  placed,  him  to  grace: 
Romania  next  with  Menacings  affayd 
To  make  her  idolize  her  ftrampet  Face, 
And  all  by  turns  nggriev'd  her  in  this  Wretched 


4?* 

What  iron  Breaft  fo  liard  that  can  endure 
To  work  fuch  Spight  pa  Vcrtuous  Innocence  ? 
Or  dare  to  violate,  with  Hands  .impure, 
A  Nympli  fo  fiill  of  -cnrteons  Complacence  ? 
O  may  the  righteous:  Gods,,  that  recorapenfe 
With  Vengeance  due  the  Guih  of  Sinners  foul, 
Dart  Thunder  at  their  Heads  of  Wrath  incenfe  ! 
May  flafhing  Clouds  with  teked  Lightning.  fcowl, 
While  Fiends  and  Hill-bora  Farie*  round  the  MfamMtshpwk  ! 

44.  But 


C 


44. 

But  let  us  leave  awhile  this  Damzell  fair* 
Detained  by  Paynim  Foe  in  bitter  Thrall  ; 
And  liften  further,  while  I  here  declare 
How  fhe  was  free-ed  by  Sir  ArthegaH, 
Whilom  efpoufed  in  her  Father's  Hall  : 
Sage  Merlin's  cunning  Art  had  thus  forefhowu, 
Though  the  true  Knight  file  nere  had  feen  at  aH; 
Abfent  he  in  the  fflagick  Glafs  was  fliown, 
And  what  the  Deftinies  decree  fhall  fure  be  done. 

45- 

That  fturdy  yron  Man  bold  Talus  hight, 
"Whom  Archimago  had  affrayed  fo, 
"With  wondrous  Speed  fought  out  this  valiant  Knight, 
Where  he  was  warring  againft  Pa.ymm  Foe, 
In  Tilt  and  Giuft  with  many  a  deadly  Blow  : 
Eftfoons  to  him  he  told  the  doleful  State 
Of  Britomartis  over-wfeelmM  with  Woe  ; 
Wifhing  him  ftraie,  ^ete  Tyde  might  be  too  late, 
To  hie  with  him,  and  (hatch  herfrom  the  Jaws  of  Fate. 

46*.  Strafe 


C3°3 


Strait  without  Word  or  Anfwer  forth  he  bent 
Along  as  trufty  Tatty  him  did  guide, 
In  Might  and  matchlefs  Arms  right  fully  bent 
To  free  his  Love,  and  quell  the  Pajninfs  Pride  : 
That  Wight  muft  needs  be  one  Day  glorifide, 
Who  againft  lawiefs  Powre  and  tortious  Wrong, 
With  fierce  Avengement  gallantly  does  ride. 
Thus  Arthegall,  prickt  inly,  ftaid  not  long 
From  his  Love's  Lore ;  fit  Matter  for  another  Song* 


FINIS. 


cCroxall., 
An  origi 
Spencer,  b 

267353 
nal  canto  of 
y  Nestor  Ironi 

941 
C953 
side  0 

1912 

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